Tube cleaner



Aug. 23, 1932. I 1 H, YQUNG 1,873,521

I TUBE CLEANER Filed June 30. 1931 Fiyi 3 /0/9 r4 g3] /4 /6 o 5. 7. E5' 47 50 Wi-E57 /g 46 (6 V 27p /7/21I x 48 'NVENTOR fames Youn Patented Aug. 23, 1932 N OF'FiCs-f JAMES HENRY'YOUG, 0F BRGNX/NEWYGRK, `essie-1i'0B rorliinisc.' Winsen, iN!

oon-rosnrnn, "or NnWYon-x, .N.,Y,',"A CORPORATION on New Yon-K TUBE lCLEANER i Application led June 30,

it is fastened. On thisfbody are cuttersV 1g which contact `with the walls of the tube tO cut the scale or other` foreign matter therefrom. NVhile these cutters may be' rigidly fixed to the body of the tool, it is customary not to so iix the 'cutters but to attach the l1x15 cutters to the tool so that they may move out-- wardly to adjust themselves to the size of tube and thus permit cutters Von'allsdes of the Ytool to'operate onthe Walls of the 'tube atthesame time. Y Y

`The Vcutters are usually urged outward against the tube by centrifugal forceand in order to allow this movement the cutters are generally 'carried on armsfpivoted to the, body member. These arms may swing about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the tube or they may swing about an` axisparallel to the axisof the tube. I z i Thisdnvention is particularly concerned with the; type of device in which the cutters are mounted on arms pivotedfabout axes which are perpendicular to the axis' of the tube,` although certain principles of Vthis ,ine vention -apply as' well todevices of other types. Q ik rThe object of the inventionis to provide a tube cleaner which operates withla highly effective'cleaning action andwhich is cheaper and -easier to-.const-ruct, more durable, and simpler rto assemble and take Vapart for re# 40 pair and replacement purposes than the devices as heretofore constructed. f

In one form of embodiment ofthe principles of my invention, the device comprises-y a body to be mounted 'on the end'of a 'drive Y 15 shaft, a plurality Aof arms mountedfonxful? Crum surfaces inthe body for ``limited pivotal movement and providedv with. shafts on which cutters are loosely mountedifandfa collar which receives a portion of the. body 53 and operates to hold-the `arms againstth'eir 1331. serial No. 547,873.

vfulcruinYsuifacf-zsl andk tollimit the yipivotal y movement thereof. v.The collar heldY in place on the body-bythe shaft lwhen the device is'attached to the shaft andupon. removal of the device the collarmay bereadily slipped free, thus releasing the arms. The fulcrum surfaces in cooperation `with the collar serve the additionalpurpose ofv locking the arms cutter.v shafts against-endwise movement Y and'withthis arrangement,the device can be cheaply constructedvsince it requires little machining l ForV Aa/detailed ferred formY of device employing; the lprinciples of this invention, refe-rence maybe. had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich `Figf lis a side view insectionof one form of-this invention;v l' y .y y F lig. l2is-a side .vieWin section of thesame form gof invention, but the siectionQis taken VFig. 3 i-psan end view of the device shownV in Fig; 1,*with the deviceyin position in a boiler tube; f A

A Fig.' l? is a sectional viewl of F ig; 1 taken. onthe line j l description drehe pre# Fig. 5 isa lside sectional view'of a modi- Vliedforin of this invention in whichthere l are four cutter arms pivotedto theibody.;

Fig. 6 isa sectional view of the device'v shown in Fig.V 5, taken .along vthe linev 6;'6;

Fig.' 7; is an enlarged sectional view ofijine-4 ofthe cutter ,armsy showing theA cutter shaft and. clutter-"in position.V

j .Asillustrated in Figs. 1` toy 4 of the ,draw-y ing,(the preferred; form ofthis inventionv con.-y

sists of a Vbody. '10, having apslot-ll extending across itand Vinwardly `from one J end v The l body 1'()y is bored fat .A12 softhat it receives retaining pin Y13 [which crosses rtheslotllA at right angles.` Arms 1.4 and l5 are also` received-'vin the slot ll, one of these` arms ly Y i I ing on each side of the pin 113. The arms are each boredlongitudinally to receive cutter. shafts 16, 'each of which extends lbeyond the-end of its arm and is provided; with 'a' vhead 17 and a'rotaryxcutte'r 18 which is cart-'r ried loosely upon vthe cutter-f shaft between the head and` therouterfvend'of thearm.`

YEach of the arms `has va cut-ioutportion 19Ay 7o l atV right angles'to the section` in F ig, 1,; a f

' it cannot move endwise.

15 vare cutv away at V24 Wheretheyv contact into which the pin 13 fits and the shafts 16 have corresponding cut-out portions. 20- vWhich also surround a part of the pin 13.

When the arms 14 and 15 are held against the pin 13 so that the openings therein surround apart of the pin andso that the openings in `the shaft also surround a part of the pin, the shaft is held Within the armso that The arms are free, however, to swing about the pin asa pivot,

^ and the pin, accordingly, serves `as a Vfulcrum.`

member or surface. l Y l In Vorder that tliecut-out portion in the shaft 16 may `easily be turnedrtoward the pin 13,1 a vflat side A21Mis providedv on the head 17' ofthe 'shaftf-16 on thesame side as the cut-out p'ort'ion20. Thus by merelyturnring the flatl side oftheliead towards the side on :which the `pin lies, the cut-out portion 2() may be brou", i,ht to vregister With-the pin 13. ff To hold the arms y1,5A and 16 against the pin 13, a Cup-Shaped retainer collar 23 fits around the bodyO andencloses a part of thearms 14 and 15 Where they vlie Within the' slot 11. The outer sides of the arms 14 and With the ring 23, sothat the arms may pivot through aY limited angle about the-pin 13 as vaY fulcrumwhile still remaining substantially lin contact both With the pin and with f theretaining collar. V'lfhisfallovvs the pivoting movement ofthe'arms,`while preventling. the ends ofthe arms from rattling back and forth,"`an'd vthus causing the noise commonly known as chattering, with attendant Wear.'l and destruction ofthe tool. The

cup-shaped retainer ring completely sur-l rounds Aone end ofthe body 10, but is provided With `a lhole 26 through Whicha Y thread ed `end of 'a drive shaft 27 passes into a `threaded recess 28 in the body 10. vA shoul- .armi1'5 ni'ayrlie. A-pin 31- in the body: 10

passes perpendicularly through theislot v11v near its outer end'. This pin passes between the arms 141and 15 which are cutout around it and the pinA serves Ato strengthentheibody ,and to limit the' movement ofthe cutter arms Vduringy assembly and the like.

In the modified form of this device,as. de scribed` in F igs, 5, and V6the body '40 com prises a cylindrical portion 41 having a threadedreicess 42 in vone end thereof, and a drivegshaft 43 threaded into the recess. yAt

f the-other endfofthe cylindrical portion 41 the body `Y hasfa taperedk portion 44 vsurthe drive shaft` mounted by a square section 45.` Pin members 46 are mounted in the surfaces of theV square portion so that they form a square surrounding the portion andeXtend outwardly therefrom. These pin members may be separate from the body,or vtheymay be an integral part thereof. Cutter arms 47 and 48 lie against the pins 46 and have cut-v out, portions 49, each of Whichsurrounds a part of a pin 46 whereby the arinv may pivot `about the pin, the pin thus serving as ay fulcrrum member or surface. v47 and'48 is bored to receive a cutter shaft Each of the arms Which carries a cutter as already described. A retainercollar 50 surrounds a part of the body and holdsthe 'arms in Vplace as Vde scribed in reference to Figs. v1.4. Y d f In" this modification the opposite arms'47 area-shorter than vthe oppositearms 48 and: the arms 48' are Vcut out at 51'so that they aul Willvnot strike the cutters'onfthearms 47.

LAfeeler rod 52 is received in a threaded opening 53 in thebody and this rod extends beyond the tool so as tocontact With the header end of the tube or WithV anelboW in the tube and thus prevents the tool frombeing pushed through into a elbow.A

Havingthus described my invention, What Iclaimis; c f Y A 1. `A tube cleaner which comprises a'body,

header or against an a fulcrum member mounted in the body, anv arm having a vrecess formed 1n oneof its sur-- faces, Vsaid arm contacting with said member With the latter entering the'recess and providinga fulcrumfon which the arm may rock,

a' shaft mounted in a bore through the arm,A a cutter on the shaft, the shaft-havinga pore;

tion engaged bythe fulcrum member to 'prevent endWise movement of the shaft, and a retaining collar on the body overlying a por# ytion of the arm and preventing. its removal from the fulcrum member while'permitting the arma limited degreeFof pivotal movement With vreference to the fulcrum member. Y 2'. A tube cleaner which comprises a body,

a fulcrum member mounted .in the body, an

arm having a recess formed in one ,of itssurfaces, said arm contacting 'With said member' `with the latter enteringV the recess vand providingwa fulcrum 'on Which the' arm may rock, a shaft mounted in abore through the arm said recess intersecting the` bore, saidlshaft having a cut-'out portion infregistry with said recess and in which a part of said fulcrum member lies whereby said fulcrum prevents endwise movement of the shaft, and a cutter mounted on the shaft. f l Y i 3; A tube cleaner Which comprises a body having al slot therein, a` pinV i'nsaid slot, an l arm lying With one surface against the pin,

said pin constituting a fulcrum lon Which` said arm may rock, said arm having-'a Abore therethrough and a lateral opening to saidVVV bore, said opening beingclosed by said pin,

igsasmzr ashaft -mounted in the bore throughtheiarm and having a portion engaged bythe Ypinto prevent endwisel'movement'ofthe shaft, andV a cutterzon the shaft. y

1i. VA tube'cleaner which `comprises a body havinga slottherein, a pin in said slot, -an arm resting against the side of'said pin and fulcrumed thereon, said arm-being freely removable from said pin while the latter remains in place-in the slot, a shaft mounted in shaft both having portions cut away to fit the surface of the pin, said arm resting against the side of the pin with the latter entering the recesses formed in the arm and shaft, the arm being fulcrumed on said pin and said shaft being prevented from moving endwise by the pin, and a retaining collar on the body overlying a portion of the arm and preventing its removal from the pinV but permitting the arm a limited degree of pivotal movement about the pin.

6. A tube cleaner which comprises a body, a pin mounted transversely in said body, an arm, a shaft mounted in a bore through the arm, a cutter on the shaft, said armV and said shaft both being cut out to fit around a part of said pin whereb-y said arm may pivot about the pin and said shaft is prevented from endwise movement and a retaining collar on the body overlying a portion of the arm and preventing its removal from the pin but permitting the arm a limited degree of pivotal movement about the pin, said body having an opening to receive a driving shaft, a driving shaft in said opening. and said retaining collar comprising a cup-shaped member having a hole therein through which said driving shaft passes, said driving shaft having a shoulder bearing against said collar to clamp the collar against the body.

7. A tube cleaner which comprises a body, a retaining pin mounted in said body, an

arm pivotally mounted on said pin, a shaft mounted in a bore through the arm and having a portion engaged by the pin to prevent endwise movement of the shaft, a cutter on the shaft, a driving shaft connected to one end of said body anda feeler rod threadedly connected to the other end of said body.

8. A tube cleaner which comprisesY a body having a slot therethrough, an arm mounted in each end of said slot, a shaft mounted in a bore through each of said arms, a cutter Von each shaft, a retaining pin mounted in said body and passing through said slotA between said arms,.each of said arms-andfsaid shafts y having cut-out portions which surround a part of said'pin whereby the arms maypivot about the pin and vthe shafts are secured against endwise movement, and ai'retaining collar-holding said `arms against said pin.

9. A tube cleaner which comprises body, arms, a shaft mounted in a bore through said arms, a cutter on'each shaft, a retaining pin mounted Vin said body, said arms andr said shafts 'having cut-out portions which sur-' v round la :part of said ypin whereby the arms may pivot about the pin andthe shafts are secured against movement, anda retaining Collar holding said arms against said pin,

one of said arms Vbeing vlonger than the other ofsaid arms,said longer 'arm having a cutout portion within which a part of the cutter mounted on said shorter `arm may flie.

l0. 'A tube cleaner which comprises a body having a slot therethrough, an' arm mounted in each end of said slot, ashaft mountedin a vbore :through each Vof said arms, aV cutter on eachshaft, aretaining pin mounted in said body and passing through said slot between said arms, each of said arms and said shafts having cut-out portions which surround a part of said pin whereby the arms may pivot about Vthe pin and the shafts are secured againstendwise movement, a retaining collar holdingfsaid arms against saidpin and means for securingsaid retaining "'coliar in place.

:11. .A tube cleaner comprising a body, a retainer pins `insaid body forming a rectangle,

an arm mounted `on each of said pins, shaft; mounted ina bore through each of said arms,

each of said-shafts and said larms having-a cut-out :portion to Vfit around a part of one of said`V pins whereby fthearm may/pivot around the pin and the shaft is held against longitudinal movement, a cutteron said shaft and :means for retaining .said `arm and shaft againstsaidretaining pin, cemprising a cuplshaped retaining cellar surrounding apart of said vbody and apart of said arms, andra drivin.g'shaftpassing through said retaining collar and being fastened to said body,` said shaft having a shoulder thereonv bearing againstsaid collar to clamp the collaragainst the body. Y y Y.

` 12. A Vtube cleaner comprising a body, retainer pins in said` body in the form of .a rectangle, an arm in eachend of each of said s s, a shaft mounted. in abo-re through each of said arms, each of said/shafts and said arms 'having-a cut-outportion to iit around a part-of one of Ysaid pins whereby the arm' may pivot around lthe pinand'the yshaft is held .against longitudinal movement, a cutter on'saidsh aft means fer retaining said arm andshaftaga'inst'said retaining pin, one pair offopposite arms being longer than the otherrpai-r (3f-opposite arms, saidglonger pair of arms yhaving cut-outportions therein in.

which the cutters on the shorter arms may lie.

' V13. A tube cleaner comprising a body, retainer pins in said body forming a rectangle, an arm mounted on each of said pins,r a `shaft mounted in a bore through each of said arms,

. each/'of said shafts and saidarms having a cut-out portion to fit around a part of one of said pins wherebyV the arm `may pivot around the pin and the shaft is held against longitudinal movement, av cutter on said shaftV and means for retaining said arm and shaft againstsaidretaining pin, one pairof opposite arms being longer than the other pair of opposite arms, saidV longer pair of arms having cut-out portions therein in'vvhich the cutters on the shorter arms may lie, and a feeler'member threaded into said body.

14. A tube cleaner comprising a body provided ywith a fulcrum surface, an arm bearing against the fulcrum surface, a shaft mounted in a bore in the armV and having a portion engaging the surface, said arm and saidshaft havinglrecesses formed by cutting away portions thereof, With said surface received in said recesses, and a collar mounted on the body and having a portion overlying the fulcrum surface,- said portion of the collar preventing lateral bodily move-l ment of the arm, and the engagement of the arm and shaft Withthe surface preventing endvvi'se-movement of the arm and shaft.

15. In a tube cleaner, thecombination of a body having a fulcrum surface, an arm having-a recess formed in one vsurface thereof, said arm resting against said surface with a portion ofthe latter received in said recess, and a member on said body Voverlying said arm and preventing disengagement of the arm from'said surface Whiler permitting the 1 arm to rock on said surface'to a limited degree.v Y

16. In a tubefcleaner, the combination of removal of material, said recess registering With therecess in said armjand'said armcontacting With said fulcrumsurface with a portion of said surface received in theV recessl in said arm and the recess in said shaft, andl a member on said body overlying at least a portion of said arm adjacent said fulcruml surface, said member preventing disengagementof said arm from said surface While permitting said'arm to rock on said surface to alimited'degree. 'n if 'f In testimony whereof I aifix'my signature.

JAMES I-I. YOUNG.

a body 'having a fulcrum surface, an arm having a recess formed in a surface thereof,

`said arm resting against said surface Yvvith a 'portion VVofvsaid surface received in said resurface, said member preventing disengage-y c5 cess, and a collar on said body overlyingthe arm adjacent itspoint of contact with the surface, said collar preventing disengagement of said arm from said surface While permitting said arm to rock on said surface to a limited degree.

- 17. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a body having a fulcrum surface,'an arm having a recess formed in a surface thereof, said arm resting against said surface with a portion of said surface received in said recess, a

shaft disposed in a bore in said arm having a portion lying outside said bore, a cutting tool on said portion of the shaft, and a member onv said body `overlying a portion: of the arm Vadjacent its point of contact with said ment of said arm from saidvsurface While 

